SAMWISE
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Monday, June 29, 2026
RACE RESULT
Russell Wins Austrian Grand Prix Ahead of Verstappen and Antonelli
George Russell claimed his second victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, holding off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 1.611 seconds at the Red Bull Ring. Starting from pole, Russell led throughout the 71-lap race to take a dominant win. Verstappen recovered from a qualifying crash to finish second, just 0.375 seconds ahead of championship leader Kimi Antonelli in third. Oscar Piastri was fourth for McLaren, Lewis Hamilton fifth for Ferrari, and Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar sixth. Lando Norris took seventh, Charles Leclerc eighth, with Racing Bulls pair Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad ninth and tenth completing the points scorers.
Ferrari Baffled by Race-Pace Collapse as Leclerc and Hamilton Drop Down the Order in Austria
Ferrari’s race pace at the Austrian Grand Prix left Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc baffled after both finished well below their qualifying positions. Hamilton qualified third and finished fifth; Leclerc qualified second and finished eighth. Rear tyre degradation was the primary culprit, with both drivers locked into a three-stop strategy no rivals followed. Hamilton said his rear tyres “just dropped off” and admitted a power unit upgrade would “not come for a while.” Leclerc said there is “still a lot of work to be done” and that he lacked “a clear picture” of what he wants from the car.
Red Bull Apologises to Verstappen After Technical Failure Caused Austrian GP Qualifying Crash
Red Bull has apologised to Max Verstappen after a technical failure caused his dramatic crash during Q3 of the Austrian Grand Prix on Saturday. A defect in the rear wing of the RB22 left Verstappen without rear downforce, causing the car to snap away as he turned into Turn 9 on his final flying lap. Team principal Laurent Mekies said: “We lost aero performance on the rear of the car and it gave Max no chance to survive. As a team we take full responsibility for it and apologise to him.” Verstappen started Sunday’s race from fifth on the grid having been on course to challenge for pole.
Antonelli Leads by 40 Points as Russell Climbs to Second in Drivers’ Championship
Kimi Antonelli holds a 40-point lead in the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship following the Austrian Grand Prix, with George Russell moving up to second on 131 points. Lewis Hamilton dropped to third with 125 points after his fifth-placed finish in Austria. Oscar Piastri is fourth for McLaren with 80 points, narrowly ahead of Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc — the three drivers separated by just one point. Max Verstappen sits seventh on 73 points after his Austrian runner-up finish. In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes leads Ferrari 302 to 204, with McLaren third on 159 points and Red Bull fourth on 115.
Verstappen Reportedly in Secret McLaren Transfer Talks as Red Bull Exit Clause Nears Activation
Max Verstappen is reportedly in secret talks with McLaren about a team switch for 2027, according to reports from the Austrian Grand Prix weekend. The four-time world champion has an exit clause in his Red Bull contract that activates if he sits outside the top two in the Drivers’ Championship at the summer break. With Verstappen currently seventh on 73 points, that clause is nearing activation. McLaren CEO Zak Brown was guarded publicly, saying he would only consider the move “if for some strange reason someone slipped on a banana peel getting out of the tub.” Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies stated Verstappen remains committed to the team.
Russell’s Austrian GP Pole Stands After Stewards Decline Yellow Flag Investigation
George Russell kept his Austrian Grand Prix pole position after stewards chose not to investigate his qualifying lap set under yellow flag conditions following Max Verstappen’s Q3 crash. The incident produced only a single-waved yellow flag rather than a double, allowing Russell to maintain the time that gave him a fourth pole of the season. Verstappen called it “quite crazy” that only a single yellow had been shown, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli had abandoned his own flying lap believing double yellows were in place, costing him a potential front-row start. Russell confirmed he had lifted at the relevant corner under the yellow, satisfying marshalling requirements.
Piastri Cleared by Austrian GP Stewards After Reconnaissance Lap Investigation
Oscar Piastri escaped punishment at the Austrian Grand Prix after being summoned to stewards for allegedly exceeding the permitted pace during reconnaissance laps. The McLaren driver was investigated for a potential breach of Article 12.2.1.i, covering the delta time limit between safety car lines, but was cleared after stewards reviewed video evidence. The official verdict stated that after reviewing footage, the car was “well within the specified delta time” and therefore no further action was taken. Piastri went on to finish fourth in the race — the best result McLaren could manage given the team’s pace gap to the frontrunners at the Red Bull Ring.
Silverstone Sprint Weekend Next: British Grand Prix Runs July 3–5
Formula 1 heads straight to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix following the Austrian round, with the circuit hosting a sprint-format weekend from July 3 to 5. Saturday morning features the sprint race, followed by qualifying for the main event on Saturday afternoon. Sunday’s British Grand Prix is scheduled for a 3pm BST start. The weekend marks the first sprint event at Silverstone since the inaugural format ran there in 2021. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli arrives 40 points clear of George Russell, while third-placed Lewis Hamilton sits six points further back as the title fight continues at his home race.
Drivers' Championship
1. Kimi Antonelli — 171 pts
2. George Russell — 131 pts
3. Lewis Hamilton — 125 pts
4. Oscar Piastri — 80 pts
5. Lando Norris — 79 pts
6. Charles Leclerc — 79 pts
7. Max Verstappen — 73 pts
8. Isack Hadjar — 42 pts
9. Pierre Gasly — 41 pts
10. Franco Colapinto — 16 pts
11. Liam Lawson — —
12. Arvid Lindblad — —
13. Esteban Ocon — —
14. Oliver Bearman — —
15. Carlos Sainz — —
16. Alex Albon — —
17. Nico Hülkenberg — —
18. Gabriel Bortoleto — —
19. Fernando Alonso — —
20. Lance Stroll — —
Constructors' Championship
1. Mercedes — 302 pts
2. Ferrari — 204 pts
3. McLaren — 159 pts
4. Red Bull Racing — 115 pts
5. Alpine — 57 pts
6. Racing Bulls — 44 pts
7. Haas — 21 pts
8. Williams — 11 pts
9. Audi — 2 pts
10. Aston Martin — 1 pts
11. Cadillac — 0 pts
DRAFT
Toronto Maple Leafs Select Gavin McKenna First Overall at 2026 NHL Draft
The Toronto Maple Leafs selected forward Gavin McKenna first overall at the 2026 NHL Draft at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Friday. McKenna, 18, played at Penn State this season, recording 15 goals and 51 points in 35 games and earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honours. A native of Whitehorse, Yukon, McKenna was a near-unanimous choice to go first, with Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews welcoming him via a video message to the club. Celebrity fan Justin Bieber took the microphone and announced the selection in place of commissioner Gary Bettman.
Hurricanes' Seth Jarvis to Miss Four to Six Months After Shoulder Surgery
Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis will miss four to six months after undergoing shoulder surgery, general manager Eric Tulsky announced Friday at the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo. Jarvis, who led Carolina with 32 goals in 71 regular-season games, is not expected to be ready for the start of 2026–27 training camp. Tulsky noted the recovery timeline creates a lineup opening for younger forwards. Eric Robinson, who also underwent a knee procedure, is expected to miss up to eight weeks and should be available for September training camp, Tulsky said.
JJ Peterka Traded to Boston Bruins by Utah Mammoth for Two First-Round Picks
The Boston Bruins acquired forward JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth on Friday in exchange for the No. 23 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a top-10-protected 2028 first-round pick from the Florida Panthers. Peterka scored 25 goals and totalled 47 points for Utah this season in what was his first year with the club. Utah then sent No. 23 to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for goaltender Sebastian Cossa, addressing their goaltending depth in a secondary move. Peterka gives Boston a proven scoring winger as the Bruins look to retool their offense for the upcoming season.
Anaheim Ducks Trade Mason McTavish to St. Louis Blues for Two 2026 First-Round Picks
The Anaheim Ducks traded center Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues on Friday for the No. 15 and No. 29 picks in the 2026 NHL Draft. McTavish, 23, posted 17 goals and 41 points in 75 games with Anaheim this season. He is entering the second season of a six-year, $42 million contract carrying a $7 million average annual value. Anaheim used the 15th pick to select forward Nikita Klepov, then traded No. 29 to the Vegas Golden Knights for No. 28, which was used to select wing Marcus Nordmark. St. Louis adds a young centre as the Blues look to retool their forward lines heading into next season.
Hurricanes Acquire Exclusive Rights to Defenseman John Carlson From Anaheim Ducks
The Carolina Hurricanes acquired exclusive negotiating rights to veteran defenseman John Carlson from the Anaheim Ducks on Friday, sending prospect Kyle Masters and the No. 192 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to Anaheim. Carlson, 36, totalled 60 points (14 goals, 46 assists) in 71 games split between Washington and Anaheim this season and is a pending unrestricted free agent. Carolina now holds exclusive rights to negotiate with Carlson before the free-agent market opens at noon ET on July 1. There is no pre-arranged deal in place, but the Hurricanes are among several teams pursuing the veteran blueliner.
Alex Tuch Signs 8-Year, $84 Million Deal as Part of Sign-and-Trade to Washington Capitals
The Buffalo Sabres completed a sign-and-trade with the Washington Capitals on Friday, sending forward Alex Tuch to Washington in exchange for forward David Kampf and a 2026 third-round pick. As part of the deal, Tuch signed an eight-year contract averaging $10.5 million per season with Washington before the trade was executed. The 30-year-old scored 33 goals and 66 points for the Sabres in 79 games this season as Buffalo returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2011. Washington also acquired Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues, adding two significant offensive pieces in quick succession.
Bill Guerin Wins NHL Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year for Work With Wild
Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin was named the NHL's Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year, announced Friday at the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo. Guerin led the Wild through a landmark year — Minnesota defeated the Dallas Stars in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the franchise's first series victory in 11 years, before falling to the Colorado Avalanche in the second round. His most significant move came in December, when he acquired star defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks in a blockbuster trade that transformed the Wild's blue line heading into the playoff run.
NHL Free Agency Opens July 1: Bobrovsky, Andersson Lead Loaded UFA Class
NHL free agency opens Tuesday, July 1 at noon ET, with 32 teams maneuvering to add talent before the official market starts. The 2026 defensive UFA class is headlined by Rasmus Andersson and John Carlson, whose negotiating rights were acquired by Carolina on Friday. In goal, Sergei Bobrovsky — a two-time Stanley Cup champion with Florida — leads the unrestricted market after a down 2025–26 season. Several veteran forwards remain unsigned heading into the noon deadline. Multiple sign-and-trade agreements are expected to be finalized before then, as teams work under salary cap constraints to fill roster needs before the window officially opens.
RECAP
Red Sox Complete Four-Game Sweep of Yankees on Jarren Duran Walk-Off in 10th
The Red Sox completed a stunning four-game sweep of the Yankees Sunday night, winning 5-4 in 10 innings on Jarren Duran's walk-off single to right field, where New York had shifted to a five-man infield. Boston starter Sonny Gray carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning, striking out nine and reaching 2,000 career strikeouts, before Amed Rosario singled with one out. The Yankees scored twice in the ninth and twice more in the 10th, aided by two costly throwing errors from right fielder Wilyer Abreu. It was Boston's first four-game sweep of New York since 2018.
Rays Sweep Diamondbacks for Fifth Straight Win Behind Rasmussen and Caminero
The Tampa Bay Rays swept the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 5-1 victory Sunday, Drew Rasmussen delivering six shutout innings while Junior Caminero homered for the fourth consecutive game. Rasmussen scattered three hits and one walk while striking out five, improving to 7-4 with a 2.45 ERA. Caminero's home run was his 22nd of the season. Tampa Bay improved to 48-33, winning its fifth straight game and holding sole possession of first place in the AL East. Arizona starter Merrill Kelly took the loss, falling to 5-8 as the Diamondbacks dropped to 41-42 with their third straight defeat.
Dodgers Extend NL West Lead to 10 Games with 4-2 Win Over Padres
The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-2 Sunday, extending their NL West lead to 10 games with baseball's best record at 54-30. Freddie Freeman drew a tiebreaking, bases-loaded walk off Michael King in the fifth inning, and Mookie Betts followed with a two-run single. Starter Emmet Sheehan held the Padres to one run on two hits over five innings, bouncing back after losing each of his past four starts. Shohei Ohtani drove in the game's first run with an RBI single in the third inning. Edgardo Henriquez pitched the ninth for his first save.
Rangers Sweep Blue Jays as Wild Pitch Ends Game, Toronto Drops Sixth Straight
Pinch-runner Jarred Kelenic scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the ninth inning to give Texas a 3-2 victory over Toronto Sunday, completing a four-game sweep and extending the Blue Jays' losing streak to six games. Josh Jung hit a two-out double off Louis Varland in the ninth, and Kelenic came in to run. Varland's first pitch to Corey Seager bounced in front of the plate and ricocheted off catcher Alejandro Kirk's mitt, with Kirk unable to find the ball as Kelenic raced home. Toronto fell to 39-45, 10.5 games behind AL East-leading Tampa Bay.
Schwarber Reaches 30 Home Runs Fastest in Phillies History as Philadelphia Edges Mets
Kyle Schwarber hit his 30th home run of the season in Philadelphia's 84th game, the fastest any player has reached that mark in Phillies franchise history, as the Phillies edged the Mets 5-4 Sunday to win the series. Schwarber's 408-foot blast to center came off Kodai Senga, making his first regular-season relief appearance after being demoted from the rotation this week following a 10.08 ERA in seven starts. Jesus Luzardo allowed one run in five innings. Jhoan Duran threw a hitless ninth for his 21st save. Philadelphia improved to 18-6 in one-run games this season.
Cubs Rally for Three in 10th to Beat Brewers and Win Series in Milwaukee
Seiya Suzuki drove in two runs with a single in a three-run 10th inning, and pitcher Jordan Wicks, called up from Triple-A earlier Sunday, retired the final batter on a double play with the bases loaded to preserve Chicago's 4-3 victory over Milwaukee. Michael Busch drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the go-ahead run before Suzuki's two-run single extended the lead. Milwaukee answered with two in the bottom half, with Christian Yelich's RBI single starting the rally, but Wicks shut the door. Chicago improved to 46-38, trimming first-place Milwaukee's NL Central lead to five and a half games.
Giants Outlast Braves as Sale Takes Tough Loss, Atlanta Drops 12 of Last 16
Robbie Ray outpitched Chris Sale as San Francisco edged Atlanta 3-2 Sunday, extending the Braves' troubling recent stretch. Ray allowed four hits and an unearned run in eight innings. Sale struck out 10 but gave up two runs over six innings, absorbing the loss to fall to 8-6 on the year despite his 2.10 ERA. The Braves have now dropped 12 of their last 16 games and six of their last seven. Atlanta remains atop the NL East at 49-33, but the Philadelphia Phillies are only three games back after winning their series at Citi Field on the same day.
Angels Fire GM Minasian, Hire Cardinals' Mozeliak as Baseball Operations Consultant
The Los Angeles Angels fired general manager Perry Minasian after a five-plus-year run and brought in longtime St. Louis Cardinals executive John Mozeliak as a baseball operations consultant. Mozeliak will oversee day-to-day baseball operations and refine a baseball operations strategy while the organization searches for a permanent replacement, expected to remain with the club through the end of 2026. He served as Cardinals GM from 2008 to 2025, guiding the franchise to 10 postseason appearances and the 2011 World Series title. Los Angeles sits at 36-49, 6.5 games behind AL West-leading Texas.
Cubs Place Maton on IL With Knee Tendinitis, Now Have 11 Pitchers Sidelined
The Chicago Cubs placed right-handed reliever Phil Maton on the 15-day injured list Saturday with right knee tendinitis, the same injury that cost him just under three weeks in April. Maton is now the 11th pitcher on Chicago's injured list, highlighting the toll injuries have taken on the Cubs' pitching staff this season. In the corresponding move, recently acquired starter David Peterson, obtained from the Mets earlier in the week, was activated. Peterson started Saturday's game against Milwaukee, going 5.2 innings and allowing two earned runs on five hits without walking a batter, his deepest outing of 2026.
DeLauter Returns From Fractured Rib, Delivers Two RBIs as Guardians Beat Mariners
Outfielder Chase DeLauter returned from a fractured rib Sunday and delivered immediately, collecting two hits and two RBIs as the Cleveland Guardians beat the Seattle Mariners 6-5. DeLauter, 24, had been on the injured list since June 17 after fracturing a rib when he collided with the outfield wall during a June 13 game against Detroit. He resumed baseball activities June 22 and needed just two weeks to return. Matt Festa earned the win and reliever C. Smith collected his 26th save as the Guardians used a big eighth inning to hold off Seattle and improve to 44-40.
American League
1. Tampa Bay Rays — 48–33, —
2. New York Yankees — 48–35, 1.0
3. Toronto Blue Jays — 39–45, 10.5
4. Baltimore Orioles — 39–46, 11.0
5. Boston Red Sox — 36–46, 12.5
1. Chicago White Sox — 43–39, —
2. Cleveland Guardians — 44–40, —
3. Minnesota Twins — 40–45, 4.5
4. Detroit Tigers — 35–49, 9.0
5. Kansas City Royals — 35–50, 9.5
1. Texas Rangers — 42–42, —
2. Seattle Mariners — 42–43, 0.5
3. Houston Astros — 42–44, 1.0
4. Athletics — 40–44, 2.0
5. Los Angeles Angels — 36–49, 6.5
National League
1. Atlanta Braves — 49–33, —
2. Philadelphia Phillies — 47–37, 3.0
3. Miami Marlins — 44–40, 6.0
4. Washington Nationals — 43–42, 7.5
5. New York Mets — 35–49, 15.0
1. Milwaukee Brewers — 50–31, —
2. Chicago Cubs — 46–38, 5.5
3. St. Louis Cardinals — 43–38, 7.0
4. Pittsburgh Pirates — 42–42, 9.5
5. Cincinnati Reds — 39–43, 11.5
1. Los Angeles Dodgers — 54–30, —
2. San Diego Padres — 43–39, 10.0
3. Arizona Diamondbacks — 41–42, 12.5
4. San Francisco Giants — 35–48, 18.5
5. Colorado Rockies — 33–51, 21.0
HARDWARE
Hack Improves Cheap Speed Controllers
Tony Goacher needed better throttle control for his TrakTrike, a wild bicycle-half-track hybrid. Commercial BLDC speed controllers handle the raw power, but their throttle response was jerky and inconsistent, especially at low speeds. His fix: an Arduino Nano wired in between the throttle and the existing Chinese controllers. The Nano intercepts the throttle signal and applies custom acceleration and deceleration curves, smoothing out the torque delivery and eliminating dead spots. It’s a minimal-parts fix that doesn’t require replacing the controllers themselves. Source code is on GitHub at TonyGoacher/TrakTrike-Controller for anyone running similar off-the-shelf ESCs who wants a smarter throttle.
World's Biggest RC A380 Is a Big Deal
When scale model builders say go big or go home, Ramy RC apparently took that literally. His team built a 1/8-scale Airbus A380 that stretches 29 feet (8.83 m) long with a 32-foot (9.75 m) wingspan and weighs in at 800 pounds (362 kg). The fuselage is CNC-cut EPS foam encased in fiberglass on the outside and carbon fiber on the inside. The wings combine carbon fiber, aluminum, foam, and wood for strength without adding mass. Window frames are 3D-printed with real acrylic windows inserted. The build quality is extraordinary, and the final flight is somehow graceful.
Accurate Split-Flap Display Can Be 3D Printed
Split-flap displays have a retro charm that’s hard to replicate with LEDs, but building one accurately is notoriously tricky. Jason solved the positioning problem by pairing a 28BYJ stepper motor with a magnetic encoder for closed-loop control, mounted inside a planetary gear set that puts the motor in the center of the flap drum for compact assembly. The two-tone flap faces can be printed on a single-color printer via a filament swap mid-print with no dual-extruder required. A Raspberry Pi Pico drives the five-character display. STL files and firmware are available for anyone who wants airport departure board energy in their living room.
Custom Hybrid Drivetrain Powers RC Boat
[rctestflight] turned a hybrid concept into a functional RC boat drivetrain using a simple but clever pairing. A knockoff Honda engine runs purely as a generator with no mechanical connection to the prop, while an electric skateboard motor handles propulsion and also regenerates under certain conditions. The combination outputs roughly 800 watts. At full throttle the boat reaches 7 knots (about 13 km/h), which is solid for the hull size. The real experiment was efficiency: [rctestflight] mapped torque and RPM data across multiple operating points to find the sweet spot where the generator-plus-motor combination actually makes energetic sense.
Prusa Updates Open Community Licence, Adds Plugin System
Prusa Research has released version 1.1 of its Open Community Licence, the open-source framework covering files shared on Printables. The headline addition is a plugin system that lets platform operators or communities attach additional clauses to the core licence without rewriting or forking it, keeping the base OCL clean while allowing context-specific expansion. The update also tightens copyleft provisions, closing ambiguities from v1.0. As an alternative, Prusa is now offering CERN OHL-S v2 as an option for hardware designs on Printables. It’s a meaningful step toward clearer rights for open hardware designers who want to share models and protect community improvements.
VIDYUT: Compact MPPT Solar Controller for Off-Grid IoT
Most MPPT solar controllers are designed for rooftop installations, making them far too large for compact IoT edge nodes and remote sensors. FluxionX Powertech’s VIDYUT targets that gap. Built around a Texas Instruments BQ24650 charge IC, it uses a synchronous buck topology to deliver industrial-grade efficiency with up to 210W of continuous load capability. It supports Li-Ion, LiFePO4, and sealed lead-acid batteries, with chemistry selection handled entirely through resistor networks rather than firmware. An STM32 Cortex-M0+ handles monitoring and data logging. Schematic files, PCB images, and STL files for the 3D-printed enclosure are all included in the Hackster project.
HamsterOS Crams a Full Graphical Desktop Onto a 1.44 MB Floppy
New operating systems for 386 and 486-era hardware don’t come along often, but John Swiderski is building one. HamsterOS is a 32-bit multitasking graphical OS that fits entirely on a single 1.44 MB floppy disk, complete with a native application suite and DOS compatibility. Practical features include a CMOS crash counter that automatically drops the system into VGA safe mode after three consecutive failed boots, a smart touch for aging hardware. Swiderski also released HamsterWeazle, a free GUI for Greaseweazle, the USB device that interfaces with old floppy drives. HamsterOS is targeting a November 2026 release and is looking for retrocomputing enthusiasts to test early builds.
INNOVATION
Nonprofit AI Survey Reveals Sharp Gaps Between Leaders and Laggards in Adoption and Outcomes
A new Blackbaud Institute report, “Bridging the Effectiveness Gap,” found that only 10 percent of surveyed nonprofits have moved beyond AI experimentation, with 75 percent reporting fragmented use across their organizations. The survey polled 1,389 social impact professionals and 1,034 donors in March 2026. A significant data-readiness gap emerged: fewer than 20 percent of AI-Emerging organizations have excellent access to real-time rate data, compared to 38 percent of AI-Adaptive organizations. On donor trust, 76 percent of donors want AI use disclosed while only 26 percent of organizations provide it. Nonprofits in the AI-Adaptive category were twice as likely to exceed revenue goals—34 percent versus 17 percent.
Organizers Launch Next250 Initiative Around Five-Point Declaration of Interdependence
Writing in Nonprofit Quarterly, organizers Linda Sarsour, Carmen Perez-Jordan, and Saru Jayaraman announced the Next250 initiative, a coalition that has engaged more than 2,500 people across 40-plus base-building organizations. The initiative centers on a Declaration of Interdependence built around five principles: a living wage, climate justice, reproductive justice, voting rights, and gun safety. The authors called for a June 27 mobilization in Washington, D.C., framing the moment as one for building rather than celebrating. Next250 seeks to convert the energy of established social movements into durable organizing infrastructure capable of sustaining long-term change across interconnected justice issues.
Nonprofit Financial Crisis Linked to Heroic Leadership Culture, Analyst Argues
In Nonprofit Quarterly, author Brooke Richie-Babbage argues that the sector’s leadership culture—which rewards self-sacrifice and treats burnout as commitment—is not merely an operational problem but a justice issue. She cites data from the NFF 2025 State of the Nonprofit Sector Survey: 36 percent of nonprofits ended 2024 with an operating deficit, the highest rate in a decade, and more than half reported fewer than three months of cash reserves. Richie-Babbage contends that board passivity transfers governance risk onto executive directors, and that multi-year unrestricted funding—the structural antidote—remains the exception rather than the norm in philanthropy.
Governance Expert Jan Masaoka Makes the Case for Board Involvement in Annual Budget Setting
Writing in Nonprofit Quarterly, governance consultant Jan Masaoka—former CEO of CalNonprofits and CompassPoint—argues that boards of all organizational sizes should be meaningfully involved in setting the annual budget. Masaoka grounds the argument in legal accountability: boards bear ultimate fiduciary responsibility and cannot discharge that duty through rubber-stamping staff proposals. She identifies four common tension points—micromanaging small line items, reflexive approval without scrutiny, fundraising targets disconnected from board commitment, and disagreements over budget components. Her prescription is to treat budget-making as a negotiation between staff and board, pairing every set of numbers with a narrative explanation of assumptions and tradeoffs.
Giving USA 2026 Reports Record $617 Billion in 2025 U.S. Charitable Contributions
The 2026 Giving USA report found that total U.S. charitable giving reached a record $617.20 billion in 2025—the first time the figure has surpassed $600 billion—a 5.7 percent increase in current dollars and 3.0 percent after inflation. Bequest giving grew 19.7 percent to $62.19 billion. Foundation giving rose 5.7 percent to $117.15 billion, its third consecutive year above $100 billion. Donor-advised fund assets reached $326.45 billion in 2024, nearly double the 2020 level, with more than 3.56 million accounts representing 15.1 percent of all contributions. The Association of Fundraising Professionals recommends organizations prioritize planned giving, donor-advised funds, qualified charitable distributions, and foundation relationships heading into year-end.
AFP Leader Connects Juneteenth to Black Philanthropy Traditions and Sector Mentorship
Writing for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Jarrod Williams MBLI CFRE reflects on Juneteenth as he assumes leadership of AFP’s African American/Black Affinity Group. Williams traces the history of Black philanthropy through churches and mutual aid societies that predated formal philanthropic institutions in the United States, arguing the tradition of community investment runs deep in Black American life. He frames mentorship as a critical form of philanthropic investment that compounds in value across generations. Williams envisions AFP’s affinity groups as spaces of belonging and peer exchange where Black fundraising professionals find community and a clear pathway to sector leadership.
Political Scientist Argues U.S. Democracy Cannot Be Restored Without Confronting Caste Origins
Kelly Burton, CEO of the Black Innovation Alliance and a political scientist, argues in Nonprofit Quarterly that the current crisis of American democracy cannot be separated from the caste system that shaped its architecture. Burton traces the Three-Fifths Compromise as an instance in which enslaved Black people became “direct political and economic capital,” writing that “democracy and caste entered into a shared architecture.” She describes how post–Civil War Reconstruction was dismantled through segregation, disenfranchisement, and racial terror, and how the post–civil rights era substituted coded rhetoric and race-neutral frameworks for explicit exclusion. Burton concludes that restoring democracy requires confronting this structural history directly.
Dreilinden Redirects 30 Percent of Grant Budget to Emergency Funding as Anti-LGBTQ Legislation Spreads
Ise Bosch, CEO of Germany-based funder Dreilinden, writes in Alliance Magazine that the rollback of SOGIESC inclusion gains is not a pendulum swing but—citing Neil Datta of the European Parliamentary Forum—the “partial success of an authoritarian project.” Grantee partners are shrinking operations while absorbing heavier workloads. In response, Dreilinden has redirected 30 percent of its annual grants budget to emergency funding, including contributions to the Urgent Action Fund and a rapid-response window of opportunity stream. The foundation has also accelerated multi-year grant disbursements and launched queer impact investments. Its Home Fund supports property acquisition to give LGBTQ organizations long-term financial autonomy.
BOX OFFICE
Supergirl Opens to $38 Million, Falls Short of Projections as Toy Story 5 Stays Atop Chart
Supergirl debuted to a disappointing $38 million in its opening weekend from 3,602 North American theaters, falling well short of pre-release tracking that had projected a $55 million-plus domestic opening. The Craig Gillespie-directed DC film, starring Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, earned a lukewarm “B-” CinemaScore from exit polls. Meanwhile, Disney’s Toy Story 5 held firm at No. 1 with $70 million in its second weekend — pacing ahead of Incredibles 2 — while Jackass: Best and Last also stumbled with just $8.4 million from 2,855 venues. The overall domestic weekend grossed approximately $158 million, up 15% from the same frame in 2025.
House of the Dragon Season 3 Premiere Draws 21.5 Million Viewers, Down 8% from Season 2
House of the Dragon ’s third season opened to 21.5 million global viewers in its first three days across HBO and HBO Max, Warner Bros. Discovery announced Thursday. That figure represents an 8% decline from Season 2’s 23.4 million three-day debut — a drop the network attributes partly to competition from the FIFA World Cup. The eight-episode season, co-created by Ryan Condal , premiered June 21 and will run weekly through an August 9 finale on HBO and HBO Max. As a positive signal, Season 2 viewership tripled in the week leading up to the premiere, suggesting re-watch momentum drew both returning and new subscribers ahead of the debut.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey Tracks for $80–$100 Million Domestic Opening on July 17
Christopher Nolan ’s The Odyssey is eyeing a domestic opening of $80 million to $100 million when it arrives on July 17 , according to early tracking. The figure would surpass Nolan’s own Oppenheimer and nearly match this spring’s Project Hail Mary ($80.5 million). Produced on a reported $250 million budget — among the most expensive R-rated productions in history — The Odyssey stars Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, and Anne Hathaway. Universal Pictures is distributing the film, which arrives two weeks ahead of Sony’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day, setting up a pivotal mid-summer box office contest.
A24 Defends Google DeepMind Partnership, Calls Deal a Seat at the Table on AI
A24 faced a surge of fan backlash after confirming a research partnership with Google DeepMind that includes a $75 million investment from the tech company. Critics on social media accused the studio of betraying its artistic identity by opening filmmaking workflows to AI development. A24 communications rep Sophia Shin pushed back, stating the deal is designed to let the studio shape AI tools from within: “We’d rather have a seat at the table than on the sidelines.” The partnership does not give Google access to A24’s content library, and filmmaker participation in any resulting tools carries no mandate.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 Arrives on Digital June 28, Streams on Disney+ and Hulu July 29
The Devil Wears Prada 2 hit digital platforms — including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home — on June 28 , ahead of its streaming bow on Disney+ and Hulu on July 29 . The Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt sequel has grossed $677.6 million worldwide, taking the franchise past $1 billion cumulatively. Disney produced the sequel for roughly $100 million and spent approximately $80 million on marketing, including a global promotional tour spanning Mexico City to Asia before a New York world premiere. The home release marks the final chapter of one of spring 2026’s most expansive studio marketing campaigns.
Disney Becomes First Studio in 2026 to Cross $3 Billion at the Global Box Office
Walt Disney Studios has become the first major studio to cross $3 billion in worldwide box office gross for 2026, fueled by a run of consecutive No. 1 openings across divisions. Key contributors include Toy Story 5 (over $367 million globally and climbing), The Devil Wears Prada 2 ($677.6 million), Pixar’s Hoppers ($372 million), and Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu ($323 million). All of Disney’s 2026 theatrical releases opened at No. 1 domestically. Walt Disney has held the No. 1 global studio position in nine of the last ten years, with upcoming titles including Moana live-action (July 10) and Avengers: Doomsday (December 18).
The Weight Drops Trailer for Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe Adventure, Eyes September 18 Release
A new trailer has arrived for The Weight , the directorial debut of Padraic McKinley , ahead of the film’s scheduled September 18 wide theatrical release from Vertical Entertainment. Ethan Hawke stars as a war veteran imprisoned at a remote labor camp who strikes a high-stakes deal with a warden played by Russell Crowe : smuggle gold out of a wilderness mine in exchange for early release. The film debuted at Sundance in January and currently holds a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The trailer positions The Weight as a classic outdoor adventure in the tradition of character-driven studio films, arriving in a competitive fall season.
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